GIRLS COMMITTED PROGRAM Q &A.11.26.2025docx.pdf
PDF 193 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Girls Committed Program
- Solicitation number
- BPM054082
- Issued by
- Baltimore City, Maryland
About this file
This document is a Pre-Proposal Conference Q&A summary for the Girls Committed Program Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), Solicitation No. BPM054082. The program seeks to establish a staff-secure, therapeutic residential facility with a home-like environment for girls and gender-expansive youth currently or formerly involved in the juvenile justice system, replacing DJS's existing hardware-secure commitment program. A virtual pre-proposal conference was conducted on November 19, 2025, with attendance from multiple prospective vendors representing organizations including TurnAround, Community Caregivers, VisionQuest, Everstand, and Faith Clinical Care Inc., among others. The conference included presentations on general procurement information, contractor requirements and scope of work, proposal format requirements, and a question-and-answer period. DJS anticipates beginning service delivery in April 2026.
The Q&A clarifications address critical programmatic and operational requirements for prospective bidders. Key definitions provided include DJS's specification that a home-like environment must be safe, comfortable, developmentally appropriate, trauma-responsive, and culturally affirming, with flexible spaces that promote dignity and supportive staff-youth relationships. Youth served will be court-committed following adjudication and will present varied needs in behavioral health, community safety, education, vocational readiness, and family support systems. Vendors must be registered on eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), MBE certified, and in good standing with the State Department of Taxation; multiple separate businesses may submit proposals if each meets these requirements. Applicants must comply with Residential Child Care regulations (COMAR 13.41.06) regarding safety procedures for youth under 18. The Department clarified that applicants need not possess a Residential Child Care (RCC) license at proposal submission, though vendors should determine their capacity to meet all requirements before submitting.
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217 East Redwood Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Aruna Miller Wes Moore Betsy Fox-Tolentino Lt. Governor Governor Acting Secretary
Phone: 410-230-3100 Toll Free: 1-888-639-7499 TDD: 1-800-735-2258
PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE FOR
GIRLS COMMITTED PROGRAM
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
eMMA SOLICITATION NO: BPM054082
The Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) conducted a Virtual Pre-Proposal conference on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. This document summarizes the Pre-Proposal Conference. The Procurement Officer commenced the conference around 12:00 pm and recognized the vendors in attendance as well as the State personnel present, as identified below. Attending on behalf of the State were: DJS Assistant Secretary for Community Resources Maish Davis, Director of Licensing & Monitoring Juanita Heaggans, and Procurement Officer Erica Stuckey & Procurement Officer Ronald Colbert.
Attendees List:
Amanda Rodriguez TurnAround - arodriguez@turnaroundinc.org Elizabeth Britt - Britt's Industries Inc - MDOT MBE - contact@wosbprinting.com Yanique Bernard, Operations Manager for Community Caregivers yan.bernard23@gmail.com Ameena DeRamous – Not provided Catherine Abrams catherineabrams401@gmail.com Kara Gouveia- VisionQuest, Kara.gouveia@vq.com Nick Staigerwald - TurnAround - nstaigerwald@turnaroundinc.org MarShay Mckenstry Community Caregivers. yan.bernard23@gmail.com Rochon K. Steward, LMSW Director of Special Operations Everstand steward@everstand.org Emma Diaz - emma.diaz@vq.com Wuraola Popoola Company: Faith Clinical Care Inc Email: w_popoola@faithclinical.com Zenobia - ohanallc23@gmail.com Threasa Jones Trljones2@gmail.com Biana Delgado- byebyeblemishes@gmail.com Kenya Welch- kenya@voicesofoursisters.org
The following sections of the RFP were reviewed:
• Section 1 General Procurement Information - RFP, Key Information Summary Sheet;
• Section 2 - Contractor Requirements & Scope of Work Requirements;
• Section 3 - Proposal Format;
• Section 4- Question and Answer (Q&A Period).
The procurement officer encouraged the attendees to submit questions and indicated that the responses to all the questions shall be published on eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA). The following questions were asked:
mailto:contact@wosbprinting.com mailto:yan.bernard23@gmail.com mailto:catherineabrams401@gmail.com mailto:Kara.gouveia@vq.com mailto:nstaigerwald@turnaroundinc.org mailto:yan.bernard23@gmail.com mailto:steward@everstand.org mailto:emma.diaz@vq.com mailto:w_popoola@faithclinical.com mailto:Trljones2@gmail.com mailto:byebyeblemishes@gmail.com
410-230-3333 / Toll Free: 1-888-639-7499 / TDD: 1-800-735-2258 Successful Youth • Strong Leaders • Safer Communities
Q1. Please describe what DJS considers a home-like environment?
A1.DJS defines a home-like environment as a residential setting that is safe, comfortable, and developmentally appropriate, and that mirrors the warmth and structure of a supportive family home. A home-like environment includes flexible, youth-centered spaces; welcoming and non-institutional design features; and opportunities for personalization that help youth feel a sense of ownership and belonging. The environment should foster emotional and physical safety, support positive youth development, and encourage healthy daily routines. This includes spaces that are trauma-responsive, culturally affirming, and designed to promote dignity, privacy, and supportive relationships between youth and staff.
Q2. How soon will the agency expect the provider to actually begin serving youth?
A2. DJS anticipates starting in April.
Q3. Is there a particular profile for the youth?
A3. Youth served by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) are court-committed following adjudication, and their profiles vary. Generally, they present with a combination of needs across behavioral health, community safety, education or vocational readiness, and family or support systems. Each youth’s circumstances are unique, and services are tailored based on their individualized assessments.
Q4. If a vendor has two separate businesses, can both businesses submit a proposal?
A4. Yes, as long as both businesses are registered on eMMA, MBE certified, and is in good standing with the State Department of taxation
Q5. What is the safety procedure for dealing with youth under 18 years old for DJS?
A5. Applicants can find detailed information about what safety measures are appropriate and required in the Residential Child Care regulations (COMAR 13.41.06)
Q6. An applicant requested an RCC application from the state of Maryland, and it was advised that the Department of Licensing is not accepting RCC applications at this time. Will this prohibit them from submitting my proposal?
A6. This does not prohibit applicants from submitting a proposal. The Department encourages all vendors to submit proposals once the vendor has determined whether their business is able to meet the requirements.
The Conference was concluded around 12:40 p.m.
Signed:
Ronald Colbert, Procurement Officer
Attendees List:
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